Improvement in automatic boiler-feeders



tinitmi tant 'JONATHAN E.' BURDGE,

'or CINCINNATI, onto.

Lette/rs Patent No. 95,983, dated October 19, 1869.

IMl-ROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEEDERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OXATHAN E. BURDGE,of Gincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Boiler-Feeders; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a sufficiently full, clear, and exactdescription thereof to. enable one skilled in the artto which myinvention appertains, to make and use it, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which feeds the water tothe boiler from an open water-tank or other suitable supply, withoutemploying a forcepump, and which serves to preserve the'water-level at acertain point, or allows it to vary but little from a certain point.

My invention consistsi First, in a certain construction of the movingparts and connecting-devices, which permits of the employment of simple,tight elastic packing.

Second, in a peculiar arrangement of pipes communiating with the boiler,which permits of the feeding` chamber being located at a higherelevation than the water-level in the boiler.

Third, in a certain arrangement of steam-ports and steam-mechanism bywhich the feeding-mechanism is operated.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 exhibits the feeding-devices, inconnection with a steam-boiler, and fully illustrates my improvedfeeding-mechanism and the improved arrangement of pipescommu'nicatingwith the boiler.

'Figure 2 isintended. to illustrate my improved arrangement ot'steam-machinery for operating the feeding-plunger, or piston.

Figure 3 exhibits the cylinder of my feeding-device, attached to theboiler, with the old arrangement of pipes, viz, one to the steam-chamberand the other to the water-chamber.

A is a cylinder, provided with ports B ('l D.

The pipe E of an open waterftank or other watersupply connects with theport B.

To the ports C D, the pipes F Ii" are connected,

`Which communicate with the interior of the boiler X by the well-knownarrangement of pipes shown in fig. 3, or by my improved arrangementexhibited in tig. l. To the cylinder A, a double-headed piston, G, is

tted, between the heads g g' of whiclra chamber, H,.

crank-engine mechanism shown in iig. 2. In this way steam is applieddirectly to the feeding-mechanism, making it independent of belting orany other method of driving, and, when required, capable of furnishingpower itself for other uses.

.ltwill be seen, 'by reference to fig. 3, that with the arrangement ofpipes therein shown, the cylinder' A, or the axis thereof, must, ofnecessity, be in line with the required water-line in the boiler', inorder tov be automatic in regulating the supply of water.

By the arrangement of pipes shown in iig. 1, in

which the ends of both of the pipes F 11V terminate, at or near thewater-line, the cylinder A may be located at a sufficient distance abovethe water-line to enable the feed-water in chamber Hto flow forciblyinto the boiler, by reason of excessive gravitation, when` communicationbetween chamber H and the boiler' is opened, and yet the level of thewater in the boiler is` maintained at or about a certain point.

Operation.

A reciprocating motion is given to the piston G, which serves to bringthe chamber H into alternate communication with the water-supply pipeE,'and with the boiler' through pipes F F'. 4

When in communication with :the pipe E, whatever steam may be in chamberH, escapes through port B, which latter may be at the top of thecylinder, it' desirable, and the chamber is filled with water.

\Vhen iu communication with `the boiler, (see par tial opening, iig. 2,)the pressure of steam is equalon the column of water in 'pipe 11" andchamber H, and the water ows into the boiler by gravity.

4The steam that escapes at port B, when the chamber H is incommunication with the pipe E, serves to heat the feed-water, and is allcondensed and returned to the boiler. 1t is, under some circumstances,condensed in the chamber H before there is a chance for escape.

The action of the apparatus, as shown in iig. 1, in the, regulation ofthe water-supply, may be described as follows:

When the water is below the terminations f f oil forced up both pipesequally, and fills the chamber H,g

it' it is not already filled, and in this condition no water canpossibly iiow into the boiler' again until the height of the water hasbeen reduced.

It will be seen, that in the passage of thc-piston G inthe direction ofthe boiler, the port C is opened a little in advance of port D. This isdesigned to give the pressure on top first, in order to facilitate therapid discharge of the water in chamber H.

An inferior modification of my device for connecting the feeder with theboiler may consist in omitting the pipe F altogether, and using the pipeF' alone.

In this modification, the pipe F must be slightlyiin- 'clined from theboiler upward, and when the chamber H is in communication with theboiler, the steam, in suflcient' quantity, will rise through the waterin pipe F', into the chamber H, and permit the water in said chamber toflow out.

Each of the heads g g of the piston Gr is packed at both ends byordinary steam-engine elastic packing, hemp, or metallic rings, orcotton rope, and leakages are eifectually prevented by durablemechanism.

I ciaim herein as new, and of my invention'- 1. In connection with thewater-supply pipe E and pipes F F', communicating with the interior ofthe steam-boiler, thedouble-headed piston G, chamber H, and ports B C Dof cylinder A, the parts being constructed and arranged, and the wholeoperated, substantially in the manner and for .the purpose described.

2. In combination with an automatic boiler-feeder,

which embodies a Water-chamber, or feed-pocket, which is brought intoalternate communication with the wat-ersupply and the boiler, thefeed-pipe F', communicating with the boiler, when the same terminatesinside the boiler, at the point corresponding with the requiredWater-line or level, as set forth.

3. In 'the described connection with the elements of the clausepreceding, the pipe F, when the same terminates inside the boiler, at ornear the water-line, as set forth. v

4. In .the described combination with the feedingmechanism embodied inthe rst clause of claim, the side-passages or pipes J J', andcylinder-heads a a', for the purpose of adapting the feeding-mechanismfor direct operation by steam, in the manner substantially as set forth.

Inv testimony of which invention, I h'ereunto set my hand.

J. E. BURDGE.

Witnesses FRANK MILLWARD, NELSON SAYLEs.

